Men armed with rifles walk through Portland to 'educate'

PORTLAND, OR (KPTV) -

Two men carrying assault rifles on their backs said they were simply exercising their Second Amendment right, but police said they scared plenty of people.

Calls started coming in to 911 dispatchers shortly before 2 p.m. Wednesday. Callers said two men with guns strapped to their backs were walking through the area of Southeast Seventh Avenue and Spokane Street in Portland's Sellwood neighborhood.

Officers arrived in the area and contacted both 22-year-old men. They were carrying rifles openly on their backs and were valid concealed handgun license holders in Oregon.

The men told officers they were hoping to educate the public about gun rights.

Officers explained that they were likely to continue generating 911 calls from alarmed people in the area, which would require a police response. Officers reported neither man seemed interested in those concerns.

"Exercising my rights with a rifle to try to decrease the demonizing of peacefully exercising your rights in public," one of the men told Fox 12. He said his name is Warren, but did not want to provide a last name.

6. Some here call them 'natural rights'.

7. It's legal.

It's legal almost everywhere. People just don't realize it. You can open carry in Philly as we found out when a guy did it last year. He was challenged by the police and he didn't back down. He turned out to be right.

I was going to get a set of six guns and start walking around like Wyatt Earp but I don't like guns. I'm getting a bastard sword instead.